Hodges announces Mpls. department head nominations

MINNEAPOLIS - As Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges begins her term she is moving forward with nominations for the people who will handle the heavy lifting for her new administration.

On Monday Hodges announced the people she wants to head up crucial city departments. Eight of the ten department head positions appointed by the mayor were up for consideration. Of those, Mayor Hodges will formally nominate six incumbents at the Executive Committee for consideration by the City Council later this month. They are:

Assessor – Patrick Todd

City Attorney – Susan Segal

Civil Rights – Velma Korbel

Fire – John Fruetel

Health – Gretchen Musicant

Public Works – Steve Kotke

Each of the nominations that the Executive Committee forwards to the Council will be subject to a public hearing and committee vote before consideration by the full Council. These nominees would join department heads Police Chief Janeé Harteau and Regulatory Services Director Nuria Rivera-Vandermyde, who were not up for consideration at this time.

"I am filled with confidence that this team will allow us to work together to grow the city, continue to run it well and end the gaps that divide our communities," said Mayor Hodges.

Mayor Hodges will begin the search this month for a new City Coordinator and Community Planning & Economic Development (CPED) Director, positions that are currently held by Paul Aasen and Jeremy Hanson Willis, respectively.

"I want to thank Paul and Jeremy for their service to the city and people of Minneapolis and their accomplishments," said Mayor Hodges. "Paul has done great work keeping the City running well, building strong relationships with department heads and helping us keep our eye on big-picture issues. Jeremy has done great work in stabilizing and reorganizing the department – the department is stronger today because of Jeremy. I appreciate the service both of them have given to our city."

"These department heads are critically important positions – my goal is to hire leaders who will help steer the work of CPED and the entire City enterprise toward my goals of growing the city, continuing to run it well and eliminating disparities between white people and people of color."

All ten of the appointed city department heads will be up for reconsideration again in January 2016.